Elmbridge is estimated to need up to 9,000 new homes by 2035. Conservatives believe future housing demand can be met without bulldozing our precious Green Belt.
Conservative group leader, Councillor James Browne, is speaking in the video from Knowle Hill in Stoke d’Abernon, which is one of the natural areas that could be lost forever if Elmbridge Borough Council's Liberal Democrat and Residents Association administration releases Green Belt land as part of its Local Plan.
The Conservative group, while in power in 2018-19, introduced option 4 into the Local Plan consultation. This makes provision for 5,000 new one, two and three-bed homes on brownfield sites and the existing built area. It rules out loss of the greenbelt. This option was supported by 85% of respondents in a recent consultation.
Our Green Belt is both beautiful and vital. It prevents London sprawl, provides a buffer between our localities and functions as the green lungs of our Borough, soaking up pollution and helping to combat climate change. Please support your Conservative councillors and candidates to keep beautiful parts of our borough safe for generations to come.
Update March 2020: Following the cancellation of the 2020 local elections, the prospect of the Conservatives regaining control of Elmbridge Council before May 2021 is remote. We will therefore be lobbying the current Lib Dem/RA Administration to honour the Local Plan public consultation and pressing for a fair distribution of homes in the existing built area, while recognising the need for supporting infrastructure.
